Dry pipe valve



A. C. ROWLEY DRY PIPE VALVE I June 14, 1932.

Filed Dec. ll, 1928 2 Sheets-Sheet A. C. ROWLEY DRY PIPE VALVE `Iulne 14, 1932.

Filed Dec` ll, 1928 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented June 14, 1932 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE ARTHUR C. ROW'LEY, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR T0 GLOBE AUTO- MATIC SPRINKLER COMPANY, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA, A CORPORATION 0F PENNSYLVANIA DRY PIPE VALVE Application led December 11, 1928..

This invention relates to improvements in dry pipe valves for automatic sprinkler systems, and the principal object of the invention is to provide a. valve or this type having generally improved characteristics of structure and operation.

A more specific object of the invention is to provide in a valve of this type a novel mounting Jfor the water clapper, making possible the elimination of special latches and the utilization of gravity alone to maintain the valve in the open position against any tend# ency of back surge to return the valve to its seat.

In the attached drawings:

Figure 1 is a vertical sectional view through a valve made in accordance with my invention showing the water and air clappers on their seats;

Fig. 2 is a sectional view similar to that shown in Fig. 1, but showing the clappers in the retracted or unseated positions, and

Fig. 3 is a. transverse sectional View on the line 3 3, Fig. 1.

With reference to the drawings, 1 is a valve casing having an intake port 2 for connection with the Water supply and a discharge port 3 for connection with the sprinkler system. The casing 1 comprises a hinged cover 4 normally held closed by means of bolts 5, and affording access to the interior of the casing and to the various working parts.

6 is a water clapper finding within the casing a seat 7 closing the intake 2, as shown in Fig. 1. The clapper 6 is carried by a lever 8 which is pivotally secured at 9 to a second lever 11, the latter being pivotally mounted at 12 in the casing.

13, 13 are two pins projecting inwardly from opposite sides of the casing 1, the reduced extremities or which project under longitudinal flanges 14 projecting outwardly from the sides of the lever 8. These pins 1-3 also lie in the path of the lever 11, and as shown in Fig. 1 constitute al stop against which the lever 11 bears when the clapper 6 is seated.

15 is an air clapper which is pivotally mounted at 16 in the casing and which inds an inclined annular seat 17 overlying the wa- Selial No. 325,139.

ter clapper 6. When this latter clapper and the clapper 15 are seated, as normally, a depending part 18 on the air clapper engages the outer downwardly curved extremity 19 of the lever 8, as shown in Fig. 1, whereby pressure above the clapper 15 tending to hold it to its seat also holds the clapper 6 to its seat 7.

The clapper 15 carries a hooked latch 21 which is cooperative with a relatively fixed element 22 to hold the clapper 15 in the open position. It will be noted that the element 22 comprises-a shoulder 23 which is effective to hold the latch 21 upon a very slight elevation of the clapper 15 from its seat, while a second shoulder 24 is provided which cooperates with the latch 21 when the clapper is fully open, as-shown in Fig. 2, to retain the clapper in the ullyopen position.

The casing also comprises ports 25 and 26 for drainage purposes, a port 27 for connection with suitable alarm apparatus, and ports 28 and 29 provided for pressure-test purposes. A port 31 is also provided which may be utilized for connection with a water gage.

Normally, the parts of the valve are as shown in Fig. 1, the sprinkler system beyond the clapper 15 being filled with' air under pressure sufficient, with the advantages of the differential between the areas of the clappers 15 and 6 and of the advantageous leverage resulting from the construction and relative arrangement of the clappers to hold the clapper 6 to its seat against the pressure of the water at the port 2. In the event of any substantial relief of air pressure in the system, the pressure of the water at the intake 2 will be sufficient to force the clapper 6 from its seat, thereby elevating the clapper 15, the latch 21 being immediately effective to prevent the closing of this clapper. As the clapper 6 is forced open and after an initial slight angular movement about the pin 9 which clears the clapper from the seat, the lever 11 tends to drop downwardly on its pivot, which brings the flanges 14 of the lever 8 into contact with the supporting pins 13, Vwhich in the continued downward movement of the lever support Vand guide the outer end of the lever 8 so that the clapper is held clear of the seat and all rictional resistance to movement avoided. The curved extremity 19 of the lever 8 acting on the depending element 18 of the clapper 15 elevates this latter clapper around its pivot, this retractive movement of the clapper being accelerated by the water pressure passing into the system from the intake 2 until the clapper 15 nally reaches the position shown in Fig. 2, in which the latch 21 is effective to retain it. It will be noted that in their extreme retracted positions, both clappers 6 and 15 are withdrawn from the path of the inlowing liquid, which accordingly has an unobstructed passage i through the valve to the system.

By reason of the mounting of the clapper 6 and the Jfact that it is withdrawn transversely with practically no pivotal movement, there is no tendency for this clapper once unseated to return to its seat. No special latch is required to retain the clapper in the open position7 as has been necessary heretofore in valves of this type.

I claim:

In a dry pipe valve, the combination with u a casing, of a valve clapper, means providing a seat forthe clapper within the casing, and a lever pivotally secured at its upper end within the casing and having its lower end pivotally attached to the clapper, said lower s end ybeing constructed and arranged Vto swing with the clapper downwardly and away from the said seat when the clapper is unseated, and guide means for the clapper in the casing supporting the free end of the clapper during i the unseating movement.

ARTHUR C. ROWLEY. 

